And not just kids, adults themselves are way too curious to learn everything about the social media.

Educators have started integrating this new love of kids for their education purposes and the results are just awesome!

Check out these statistics below that reflect the use of social media in education.

1. In “Teaching with Twitter: Extending the Conversation beyond the Classroom Walls,” David Wessner describes how he used social media to bring students in his upper level seminar on the Biology of HIV/AIDS into contact with emergent scholarly discussions in the field, an exercise that not only broadened students’ awareness of current research, but also helped them develop their information literacy skills. Social Media

2. Tami Blumenfield’s case study, “Student-Directed Blended Learning with Facebook Groups and Streaming Media: Media in Asia at Furman University,” asks what happens when students in an general education course are allowed the freedom to explore a broad topic (media in Asia) in a self-directed fashion, and are then asked to share their insights and analyses through face-to-face activities and Facebook-based group discussions.

Excerpt from the study:

“By using technologies that students are comfortable with like Facebook, faculty can create a powerful learning environment through the merging of the creative, collaborative, social, and interactive capabilities of this powerful platform. Also, using Facebook in a course offered unique engagement and a different way of knowing.”

Students’ Opinion:

“Sixteen students reported that Facebook and the independent emphasis of the course had a very positive or somewhat positive effect on their learning at the course mid-point, and 15 students reported this at the end of the course. Given the small sample size and the increase in number of respondents for the final feedback, the percentage declined from 84.2% at the course mid-point to 71% at the end of the course. Two additional students joined the ‘neutral’ category and two moved to the ‘very negative effect’ category. Since 25 students were enrolled in the class, it is unclear whether the same 19 students responded the second time and were joined by two new students or whether a different subset of students responded. With these caveats in mind, however, the trends are clear: the majority of students appreciated the use of Facebook, and a smaller but significant minority found it did not help them learn.” Many students thus found the Facebook platform to be an effective way to engage with their classmates and articulate their own ideas, and they could take pride in at the end of the term.

3. This case study in this collection, “It Takes a Consortium to Prepare Students for Life after Graduation: An Inter-Institutional Blended Learning Career Planning Course” by Jana Mathews, Anne Meehan, and Beth Chancy, points to the collaborative possibilities inherent in digital learning. This case study documents an inter-institutional Career Planning course in which students used LinkedIn-based assignments and videoconference interviews to build vital networking and personal branding skills. As Rebecca Frost Davis has observed, such collaborative strategies hold immense potential for program development and curriculum expansion for liberal arts institutions.

4. According to this infographic on the use of social media in the schools, activity of kids over social media has been reflected in the following figures.

-- 96% of students with internet access report using social networking technologies.

-- 75% of 7th through 12th graders have at least one social media profile.

-- 63% increase in the amount of time kids ages 2-11 spent online between 2004-2009.

-- 59% of students who use social networking talk about education topics online.

-- 50% of those who talk about education topics online talk specifically about schoolwork.

-- 35% of schools have student and/or instructor-run blogs.

-- 46% of schools have students participate in online pen pal or other international programs.

-- 49% of National School Boards Association (NSBA) schools participate in online collaboration with other schools.

-- 59% of schools say their students use social networking for educational purposes.

-- 27% of schools have an online community for teachers and administrators.

-- 69% of American high schools have banned cell phones.

5. This depiction of social media use in the lives of teens states some amazing facts about the use of social media by the teenagers. It states, “YouTube EDU currently has 700K + high quality educational videos that can be used in the classroom. 77% teachers find digital tools helpful but 87% also say that sites like YouTube are the biggest distraction.”

Priyanka is a blogger by profession and has an increasing interest to write about the edtech space. While writing she keeps in mind the educators to come up with right resources and ideas which might be relevant for them in relation to effective use of technology in their profession and institutions/classrooms.
Twitter ProfileLinkedIn Profile

EdTechReview (ETR) is a community of and for everyone involved in education technology to connect and collaborate both online and offline to discover, learn, utilize and share about the best ways technology can improve learning, teaching, and leading in the 21st century.

EdTechReview spreads awareness on education technology and its role in 21st century education through best research and practices of using technology in education, and by facilitating events, training, professionaldevelopment, and consultation in its adoption and implementation.

I find every news, reviews very informative and interesting. This site is indeed a great site for both teachers and learners. Thanks to EdTech for creating such an enriching site on education. Hats off!!

- Regin Brown, Educationist and Blogger, United Kingdom

My group likes this site because it's so up-to-date and has tons of relevant articles.

- Angela Giuliano, Teacher, New Mexico

Your write ups and articles ignites the minds making them receptive to the whole new wealth of EdTech.

- Jagat Rana, Parent, India

EdTechReview has some great resources for teachers who need to get some ideas about technology in the classroom.

- Loretta Wideman,Teacher, East Africa

EdTechReview keeps educators up to date with trending tech savvy terms relative to the discipline.

- Dr. Ingrid Rizzolo,Education Professional, Curriculum and Instruction Designer, New York City Area